First baby of new year born at Baptist Memorial Hospital

Published 12:00 pm Monday, January 4, 2016

When Katie Powell’s water broke early Saturday morning, with it being already Jan. 2, she didn’t even consider her baby could be the first one born at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in 2016.

“I knew it was close to New Year’s but I figured one was already born,” Powell said Sunday from her room at Baptist. “When my water broke Saturday morning, they told me I was the first one in serious labor. They had a few come in thinking they were but they weren’t ready yet and were sent home.”

Her child being the first of 2016 was far from her mind as her labor progressed, however.

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At 2:53 p.m. Saturday, tiny AudreyClaire was born, weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces and measuring 18.5 inches.

She is also the daughter of Timothy Yates of Grenada and the granddaughter of Ben and Doris Williams, Bobby and Sandra Yates, Christine and Reese Foreman, all of Grenada; and Roger and Marie Powell of Tampa, Florida.

AudreyClaire is the first child for Powell and Yates.

Baptist Memorial Hospital presented Powell with a gift basket filled with baby items, including a baby blanket, clothes, a Willow Tree doll and more.

“It was very nice,” Powell said. “I really didn’t even think about her being the first until they came into the room with the basket and took my picture for the newspapers. It’s pretty exciting.”

Being a first-time mom is also exciting, Powell said.

“I kind of wanted a boy at first,” she said. “But now that she’s here, when I look at her, I can’t imagine her being anything different.”

Powell said she is looking forward to bringing her new daughter home today to Grenada, where Yates works for the Grenada School District and Applebee’s restaurant, and Powell will remain at home with the baby. She recently earned her associate’s degree online and plans to continue her education.